South Africa Deploys Army Against Crime

South Africa has deployed soldiers to its biggest city, Johannesburg, as part of a wider plan to use the army in five of its nine provinces to help police fight gang violence and illegal mining. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this initiative, calling organized crime the greatest threat to South Africa's democracy and economic development. An initial deployment of 550 soldiers in South Africa===Gauteng province, including Johannesburg, will last until the end of April, focusing on illegal mining in South Africa===Gauteng, South Africa===North West (South African province), and South Africa===Free state, and gang violence in South Africa===Western Cape and South Africa===Eastern Cape. This move comes as South Africa faces high rates of violent crime, with 6,351 homicides reported from October to December 2025. The deployment, which could last over a year in some areas, has been largely welcomed, though some political parties view it as an admission of police failure.